The tsunami follows the financial crisis. Leave the beach. Walk. Don’t look back

Published December 4, 2009 by Jo Jordan

A tsunami is on its way but we are sleeping through it

I’ve done that actually, slept through a tsunami warning, but I am not talking about waves here. I am talking about the massive changes taking place in the world. The financial crisis is just the beginning. The financial crisis is the tremor under deep water that sets off a tsunami of social change.

Intuitive people “get it” first

I have a good intuitive brain. Many times in my life, I’ve realized that something is all wrong. But I have stopped to persuade others rather than just “get out”. I am happy that I am a team player and I am happy that I am loyal and generous. Sometimes in this life though, patient explanations are not going to “do it”.

There are two important reasons why people don’t listen to warnings from *N**

When we stop to explain, we signal to people that we don’t mean what wesay. People read body language more than they listen to words. When we stay, they stay. Sadly, they don’t read our actions as solidarity. They hear our words as hot air.

People who are *S**, rather than *N** [Myers-Briggs], attend to “what is” not “what may be”. They look around and they don’t see that their comfortable life is about to disappear. They see a comfortable life. Our sense of the future is contradicted by tangible facts and frankly we look like fools. To communicate with *S**, who usually outnumber *N**, we must show concrete proof. We must find a way of turning out intuitions into something they can smell, feel, touch, taste.

What to do when a tsunami is approaching

When we sense a tsunami is approaching, I’m afraid there is no point in hanging about the beach telling people to get dressed and head for the hills. What we have to do is

Get up

Pack up very visibly

Head to the hills

We mustn’t slink off. We must be visible. But we mustn’t stop to debate or explain. We must simply walk the talk. Say briefly and clearly, “A tsunami is coming. I am going to high ground.” If they look interested, say “Carry this!” Whatever you do, don’t give them something essential. Give them something useful that you could leave behind if they dither and don’t start walking. Don’t stop. Don’t look back! If your best friends stay to continue the party, that’s a shame, but ultimately their choice. Walk, and keep walking. Now!

Why I am talking? The tsunami is coming!

Head for higher ground!

As a rule of thumb, if the place you are in is all too easy, all too lazy, all “too right”, and most importantly “all too exclusive”, you are on the beach! Head for higher ground!

Imagine the place where the tsunami will not reach. Imagine who and what is not going to move. That will be beach. Leave that beach, now!

Imagine the higher ground, pack up visibly and walk. Don’t look back.

Hat-tip: This post was inspired by this very long post by Graeme Codrington. It is dedicated to all the *N** of the world and particularly those who work as strategic planners for large corporations.

2 Comments

Anonymous

Wtf is this alarmist shit? Even if what you’re talking about DOES happen, what is stopping you from leaving then, instead of jumping the gun and reacting (so outrageously) to something that may not even happen?

I’d like to thank you for illustrating my points so well but you’ve left a fake email address! I do know that you or your server is in Chattanooga Tennessee, and that you aren’t threatened by a real tsunami.

But you are concerned and you illustrate how people respond to warnings. My message to *N** is that we can’t stop to explain to you. We know that we have to move to a higher ground. You can come if you want. But you will have to behave yourself.